Single page multi-tier catalog browser

ABSTRACT

A single page multi-tier catalog browser interface page is presented in a view formatted in response to a selection of a primary filter. The view displays a graduated element for selecting a primary filter value, and a matrix of secondary filter Yes or No indicators, each associated with the graduated element primary filter values, the Yes indicators aligned with the primary and secondary filter values that match within at least one record in a catalog. Selection of a graduated element value causes aligned Yes matrix indicators to be presented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Selection of a first-click icon expands it into a tertiary sub-window within the interface page, wherein selection thereof effects a layered primary-secondary-tertiary value searching of the catalog. Each of the above is achieved without navigating the user away from the single interface page.

RELATED APPLICATION

The subject application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/984,117, filed Jan. 4, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to systems and methods for browsing andreturning search results from a catalogue database as filtered by rangecriteria.

BACKGROUND

In catalog browsing, a desired result may be found through a series ofcategorical searches of a hierarchy structure, each search typicallynarrowing by adding additional search criteria or limits, for exampleusing multiple filters to progressively narrow or reduce results to anultimate result. Catalog browsing enables search results to be retrievedfrom a single database as well as from other databases, sources, webpages, etc. Although many search mechanisms are known, finding a finalresult from a large universe of possibilities generally requires a largeplurality of user inputs at each of a plurality of different browserresult windows, and wherein a user may click through a large pluralityof windows to end up at a browser window or web page far removed fromwhere the user started. Presenting information during the searching andat a final, ultimate result presents complexities in smoothly guiding auser through each step or page of the process, in one aspect to preventuser confusion and dissatisfaction in finding a desired result, or inbacking out of a search in order to start a new or different search

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method is provided for a single page multi-tier catalogbrowser. The method includes presenting a single interface page in anoriginal view formatted in response to a selection of a primary filterby displaying a graduated element for selecting a primary filter value,and populating a matrix of Yes and No indicators each associated withthe graduated element primary filter values and with secondary filters,the Yes indicators aligned with plurality filter value and secondaryfilters that match within at least one record in a catalog, the Noindicators aligned with plurality filter values and secondary filtersthat do not match within any result of the catalog. In response to auser selecting one of the graduated element primary filter values, thoseYes matrix indicators aligned with the selected value are presented asselectable first-click icons in the interface page. In response to theuser selecting first-click icons, it is expanded into a tertiarysub-window within the interface page, the tertiary sub-window displayingdata returned by a search of the catalog by the aligned primary filtervalue and the secondary filter, or one or more second-click thumbnailimages of a data item of the catalog that is associated with the alignedprimary filter value and the secondary filter. In response to an inputby the user, the tertiary sub-window is closed and the user viewreturned to the interface page original view, wherein the user remainson the single interface page for each of the steps described above(presenting the page in the original view, presenting the Yes matrixindicators that are aligned with the selected primary filter value asthe selectable first-click icon, expanding the selected first-click iconinto the tertiary sub-window and closing the tertiary sub-window andreturning to the original view).

In another aspect, a computer system includes a processing unit,computer readable memory and a computer readable storage system. Programinstructions on the computer readable storage system cause theprocessing unit to present a single interface page in an original viewformatted in response to a selection of a primary filter by displaying agraduated element for selecting a primary filter value, and populating amatrix of Yes and No indicators, each associated with the graduatedelement primary filter values and with secondary filters, the Yesindicators aligned with plurality filter value and secondary filtersthat match within at least one record in a catalog, the No indicatorsaligned with plurality filter values and secondary filters that do notmatch within any result of the catalog. In response to a user selectingone of the graduated element primary filter values, those Yes matrixindicators aligned with the selected value are presented as selectablefirst-click icons in the interface page. In response to the userselecting first-click icons, it is expanded into a tertiary sub-windowwithin the interface page, the tertiary sub-window displaying datareturned by a search of the catalog by the aligned primary filter valueand the secondary filter, or one or more second-click thumbnail imagesof a data item of the catalog that is associated with the alignedprimary filter value and the secondary filter. In response to an inputby the user, the tertiary sub-window is closed and the user viewreturned to the interface page original view, wherein the user remainson the single interface page for each of the steps described above(presenting the page in the original view, presenting the Yes matrixindicators that are aligned with the selected primary filter value asthe selectable first-click icon, expanding the selected first-click iconinto the tertiary sub-window and closing the tertiary sub-window andreturning to the original view).

In another aspect, a computer program product for a single pagemulti-tier catalog browser is provided, which has computer readablestorage medium including program instructions to present a singleinterface page in an original view formatted in response to a selectionof a primary filter by displaying a graduated element for selecting aprimary filter value, and populating a matrix of Yes and No indicators,each associated with the graduated element primary filter values andwith secondary filters, the Yes indicators aligned with plurality filtervalue and secondary filters that match within at least one record in acatalog, the No indicators aligned with plurality filter values andsecondary filters that do not match within any result of the catalog. Inresponse to a user selecting one of the graduated element primary filtervalues, those Yes matrix indicators aligned with the selected value arepresented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Inresponse to the user selecting first-click icons, it is expanded into atertiary sub-window within the interface page, the tertiary sub-windowdisplaying data returned by a search of the catalog by the alignedprimary filter value and the secondary filter, or one or moresecond-click thumbnail images of a data item of the catalog that isassociated with the aligned primary filter value and the secondaryfilter. In response to an input by the user, the tertiary sub-window isclosed and the user view returned to the interface page original view,wherein the user remains on the single interface page for each of thesteps described above (presenting the page in the original view,presenting the Yes matrix indicators that are aligned with the selectedprimary filter value as the selectable first-click icons, expanding theselected first-click icon into the tertiary sub-window and closing thetertiary sub-window and returning to the original view).

In another aspect, a service provides for single page multi-tier catalogbrowsing by providing a computer infrastructure that presents a singleinterface page in an original view formatted in response to a selectionof a primary filter by displaying a graduated element for selecting aprimary filter value, and populating a matrix of Yes and No indicators,each associated with the graduated element primary filter values andwith secondary filters, the Yes indicators aligned with plurality filtervalue and secondary filters that match within at least one record in acatalog, the No indicators aligned with plurality filter values andsecondary filters that do not match within any result of the catalog. Inresponse to a user selecting one of the graduated element primary filtervalues, those Yes matrix indicators aligned with the selected value arepresented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Inresponse to the user selecting first-click icons, it is expanded into atertiary sub-window within the interface page, the tertiary sub-windowdisplaying data returned by a search of the catalog by the alignedprimary filter value and the secondary filter, or one or moresecond-click thumbnail images of a data item of the catalog that isassociated with the aligned primary filter value and the secondaryfilter. In response to an input by the user, the tertiary sub-window isclosed and the user view returned to the interface page original view,wherein the user remains on the single interface page for each of thesteps described above (presenting the page in the original view,presenting the Yes matrix indicators that are aligned with the selectedprimary filter value as the selectable first-click icons, expanding theselected first-click icon into the tertiary sub-window and closing thetertiary sub-window and returning to the original view).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an aspect of a system, methodor process according to the present invention for a single pagemulti-tier catalog browser.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an aspect of a single page viewof a multi-tier catalog browser according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of another format or view of thesingle page multi-tier catalog browser of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of another format or view of thesingle page multi-tier catalog browser of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of another format or view of thesingle page multi-tier catalog browser of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of another format or view of thesingle page multi-tier catalog browser of FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of another format or view of thesingle page multi-tier catalog browser of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of an aspect of a system, methodor process according to the present invention for a single pagemulti-tier catalog browser.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of an aspect of a system, methodor process according to the present invention for a single pagemulti-tier catalog browser.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a computerized implementationof an aspect of the present invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyschematic representations, not intended to portray specific parametersof the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typicalaspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered aslimiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numberingrepresents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium excludes transitory, propagation or carrier wave signalsor subject matter and includes an electronic, magnetic, optical, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable storage medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, acomputer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that doesnot propagate but can contain or store a program for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in abaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java®, Smalltalk®, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. (ORACLE and JAVA are registered trademarks ofOracle and/or its affiliates in the United States or other countries;SMALLTALK is a registered trademark of Infone Tech, Ltd. in the UnitedStates or other countries.) The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to aspects of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a process or system for singlepage catalog browsing of a plurality of catalog entries according to thepresent invention. At 102 a single-page multi-tier catalog browsinginterface is presented to a user formatted in response to a userselection of one of a plurality of pre-determined, primary filter (orfiltering criteria), wherein a plurality of secondary criteria filtersare selected and presented to the user as a function of the selectedprimary filter to complement and modify the selected primary filter, inone aspect to provide a focused narrowing item search of the catalog.More particularly, a multi-tier catalog browsing interface web page isdisplayed at 102 including a plurality of primary criteria filter valuesin a sliding scale (or other graduated, selectable element) in aYes-or-No matrix relationship with a plurality of different secondarycriteria filters. The matrix is populated with binary value Yes-Noindicators that are each aligned with the primary criteria sliding scalevalues as a function of matching (“Yes”) or not-matching (“No”)respective aligned ones of the secondary criteria within at least onecatalog result. The page enables the user to select one of the secondarycriteria as an additional search filter through a graphical userinterface (GUI) selection of a corresponding “Yes” indicator. The pagealso continues to present the original primary criteria choices at 102,and at each subsequent presentation or redrawing of the page, duringwhich enables the user to change the primary filter selection at 104 atany time to trigger a responsive reformatting of the page by generatinganother Yes-No matrix at 102 as a function of each respective primaryfilter selection.

At 106, in response to a user selecting one of the primary criteriavalues in the sliding scale, the single-page multi-tier catalog browsinginterface presents those “Yes” matrix value indicators associated withthe selected primary criteria value as selectable first-click icons.These may also be distinguished visually from the other “Yes” matrixvalue indicators remaining in the matrix, in order to quickly visuallyindicate to the user the “Yes” secondary criteria values that areassociated with the selected primary filter value as distinguished fromthe other “Yes” indicators, but this is optional.

In response to the user selecting a first-click icon at 108, for exampleby rolling a cursor or other GUI element over the selected first-clickicon and/or clicking a mouse button or entering some other selectioninput through the GUI, the catalog browsing interface replaces (orexpands) the selected first-click icon with (or into) a sub-windowwithin the same, single-page view of the browsing interface whichdisplays (1) data returned by a catalog search result returned by thealigned primary and secondary criteria; (2) a single second-clickthumbnail image of a single catalog item associated with the alignedprimary and secondary criteria; or (3) a genus group of speciessecond-click thumbnail images of catalog items, each associated with thealigned primary and secondary criteria.

At 110, some aspects of the present invention enable a user to expandeach of the displayed second-click thumbnails by rolling over the GUIcursor, thereby enlarging them temporarily for better viewing while thecursor is located over each respective enlarged thumbnail. However, thisis optional, and some aspects may convey sufficient information by anon-expanding second-click thumbnail to enable a choice by the user. At112, in response to the user clicking on a one of the second-clickthumbnails, the browsing interface expands the selected and clickedthumbnail into a (or opens a new) tertiary product/data detail windowwith options selectable by the user with respect to a catalog itemresult wherein the opened/new tertiary window is a sub-window within theoriginal single-page multi-tier catalog browsing interface windowpresented at 102.

The tertiary sub-window may provide discrete additional selectablefiltering options selectable at 114, for example to select an item froma tertiary genus group of items represented by the tertiary sub-windowby a fourth-level color, species identity, model number, prices, etc.,filter option, and wherein this process may iteratively repeat to redrawthe tertiary sub-window for each additional filter option chosen at afifth, sixth, etc. level, until a final result is selected within thetertiary sub-window iterations at 114. The discrete additionalselectable tertiary sub-window options at 114 may also include actionsavailable to the user with respect to the tertiary sub-window or catalogitem retrieved thereby, for example buttons to effect printing an item,purchasing an item, reporting an item or event, etc.).

At 116, the user closes the tertiary sub-window (through executing oneof the options in the detail window or otherwise exercising a closewindow option), which returns the user's view to the originalsingle-page multi-tier catalog browsing interface window drawn inresponse to the selected primary criteria at 102 for more browsing, orfor redrawing by selecting a new primary criteria at 102-104, etc.

In one aspect, in the process of FIG. 1 described above, the user neverleaves the single-page multi-tier catalog browsing interface view. Thus,where a group of thumbnails are presented at 108, choosing one of thethumbnails over the others is a tertiary, third filtering of the catalogrecords to return the chosen thumbnail as a search result withoutrequiring the user to navigate to a different window or web page. Ineffect, the first and second click selections at 108 and 112,respectively, create a search term with the primary and secondary (andoptionally with tertiary and more filters by thumbnail selection at 112and option selections at 114) for searching and returning a catalog itemas a function of their coexistence within a chosen catalog entry.

FIGS. 2 through 7 illustrate aspects of a single-page multi-tier catalogbrowsing interface web page views according to the present invention. Itwill be understood that each of FIGS. 2-7 present views of all orportions of a singular, over-all window frame presented to the user, thepage or elements of it redrawn as necessary, but wherein the user nevernavigates away from the page or leaves the over-all window frame of thepresented page.

FIG. 2 illustrates an optional greeting page format wherein a pluralityof pre-determined, primary filtering criteria are presented forselection as Calendar 120, Fauna 122 and Flora 124 GUI buttons withrespect to an almanac catalog. Optional information fields may also beincluded, for example a welcome banner field 126 and an explanatoryfield 128 to provide guidance to a user to select one of the primaryfilters 120, 122, or 124 and offer additional information. Alternativeaspects may also omit the greeting page format of FIG. 2 and format thepage based on a default or prior selection of one of the criteria, asdiscussed more generally below. It will also be understood thatadditional page elements may be included in a single page view, in thisFigure and in FIGS. 3 through 7 described below.

FIGS. 3 through 6 illustrate the single-page multi-tier catalog browsinginterface page drawn upon selection of the Calendar primary filterbutton 120 by the user (or by default, prior choice history, etc.). Thepage provides a scale slider 130 movable by a GUI cursor 132 to select aprimary filter value 134 on a sliding scale 136, in the present exampleto select a week of possible calendar weeks. A matrix of “Yes” asterisks154 and “No” blank spaces 155 is provided indicating matches or theabsence of matches in catalog records respectively for each week value134 within the catalog records with respect to the listed secondarycriteria Events 138, genus categories Fauna 140 and Flora 148 and theirrespective family or species sub-categories Mammals 142, Birds 144, Fish146, Trees 150 and Wild Flowers 152.

In response to the user sliding the slider 130 onto one of the primaryfilter values 134, “Yes” binary indicators 154 aligned with the slider130 through a slider bar 156 are reformatted into selectable first-clickicons “[#]”158. The present aspect also displays the week value selected160, as well as weather data 162 associated with the primary criteriavalue independent of the secondary criteria (thus, data searchable andreturnable from the catalog records from the primary criteria valuesonly).

FIG. 4 illustrates a result from the user navigating the cursor 132 overthe first-click icon 158 aligned with the slider bar 156 in the Birdsubcategory 144 and clicking on the first-click icon 158, which causesthe single page to present a group of selectable second-click thumbnails164 to the user in the same page within a horizontal thumbnail space 165and in replacement of the clicked icon 158. If a total number ofthumbnails 164 results contains more choices than will fit in anallocated horizontal thumbnail space 165, arrows may be provided toenable right/left scrolling of a slideshow presentation of the thumbnail164 images within the horizontal thumbnail space 165.

Rolling the cursor 132 over any of the thumbnails 164 may optionallyenlarge it temporarily for better viewing or to otherwise provide moreinformation to the user as to the thumbnail 164, for example expandingthe Goose Billed Thrasher thumbnail 164 a.

FIG. 5 illustrates the result of the user selecting the second-clickGoose Billed Thrasher thumbnail 164 a by clicking on it, resulting in atertiary sub-window 166 presented to the user within an over-all windowframe of the same presented page, and providing third level filter oraction options selectable by the cursor 132; a detailed informationbutton “i” 168, a different information option 170 and an optionalenlarge window action 172.

Thus, according to the present invention, selection of a graduatedelement primary filter value causes aligned Yes matrix indicators to bepresented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page, withselection thereof expanding a first-click icon into a tertiarysub-window within the interface page, and wherein a correspondingselection thereof may effect layered primary-secondary-tertiary valuesearching of the catalog and returning of a search result to the user,all without the user navigating away from the single interface page.

For example, FIG. 6 illustrates the result of the user selecting thedetailed information button “i” 168 within the tertiary window 166 ofFIG. 5, resulting in a new more detailed tertiary level sub-window 174including the detailed information and replacing the tertiary sub-window166. In one aspect, the tertiary level sub-window 174 includes catalogdata retrieved through a search driven by a four-level filter search offilters selected by the user: the primary filter calendar week value134, the first-click Fauna-Bird genus/species icon 158 a, thesecond-click Goose Billed Thrasher thumbnail species 164 a, and itsassociated detailed information button “i” 168. This detail windowaspect also provides another, further level of information searchfiltering in the form of a selectable “common” state status icon 176, aswell as print window 182 and enlarge window 180 action options. Further,although the present aspects illustrate image file data as conveyed bythe thumbnails 164, 166 and 174, thumbnail aspects according to thepresent invention may also present other forms of media and actions aswell, for example to display or download files, video, animation, playaudio stream, etc.

The user may also easily back out of the search or terminate it byclosing the sub-windows 166 or 174, clicking another of the first-clickicons 158, moving the slider 130 to create a new set of first-clickicons 158 aligned with the slider 156, or by choosing another of theprimary criteria options 122 or 124. For example, FIG. 7 shows areformatting of the page in response to a selection of the Fauna primarycriterion 122, wherein the page now provides a “Status” scale 184 slider186 movable to select between different status values 188, in thepresent example. The matrix of “Yes” asterisks 154 and “No” blank spaces156 now indicates matches or no-matches in Fauna genus 140 andsub-species/families Mammals 142, Birds 144, Fish 146 in the catalogrecords for respective status values 184, and wherein the Flora 148 andrespective family/species sub-categories Trees 150 and Wild Flowers 152are omitted.

More particularly, each of the search finish, back-out termination orprimary criteria revision processes may be executed with the same,single over-all browser window or page view, without requiring the userto leave the original page view or successfully navigates throughdifferent page locations (or providers). Thus, in this and otheraspects, the present invention enables a user to efficiently achieve adesired search result, print found information, purchase a found item,etc., within a singular page view, reducing likelihood of user confusionthat may occur as a result of navigating through multiple pages (andservice providers) as is required in the prior. By avoiding differentpage navigation, the present aspects avoid user confusion engendered bydealing with different formats, different service providers or differentassociated interaction requirements, thereby increasing the likelihoodof successful results and item purchases relative to the prior art. Forexample, in a retail context, the thumbnails 164 and sub-windows 166 and174 may provide product or item detail levels, and enable additionaloptions (print, enlarge/rotate photo, email, add-to-cart, purchase,etc.) that may also enable transactional or non-transactional follow-onfunctionality, each without confusing the user or creating thepossibility of mistakes through off-page navigation.

More particularly, in conventional, prior art catalog browsing, startinga new search or otherwise returning to an initial interface page orwindow may be inconvenient or confusing. Unwinding a prior art searchresult progression may require a large number of clicks to back out, ormay require identifying and choosing an appropriate window from a largeplurality of windows opened by the search, wherein selecting or closingthe wrong window may cause the user to completely lose their way back tothe original, starting search page, requiring a user to navigate back tothe page and start over. As finding a final result is commonly a largenumber of pages or “clicks” away from an initial query (for example,between seven and ten in a retail context), user mistakes and confusionoften lead to failure in smoothly navigating a retail site, leading todissatisfaction with conventional catalog web sites and sometimes lossof customers and revenue, prior to a successful purchase execution. Incontrast, aspects of the present invention provide a single page,self-filtering visual interface paradigm that allows a user to browseand navigate to the desired product detail view in as little as twoclicks (dependent upon the business rules in effect or assigned by asite owner). Users thus may act on their choice (complete a transactionor exit) and be back to the original interface without requiring anypage navigation or navigational code-breaking.

Interface designs according to the present invention may be completelyflexible in terms of assigned or chosen browsing filters and allow forcategorical product/data hierarchies while giving the user the option ofignoring levels they aren't interested in viewing. Large product/datalists are easily viewable via expandable rollovers such that a greatmany items can be scanned quickly and in uncomplicated fashion. As such,user exploration enablement is optimized, increasing the chances ofimpulse purchases. By speeding up a shopping/transaction process(improving the customer experience), fatigue factor decreases whileattention span increases, thus increasing the odds of a customerfinishing a retail transaction and thereby the likelihood of increasedrevenue and customer retention.

Thus, in aspects of the present invention, a single-page interface maybe used for quickly browsing a catalogue database as filtered by anydesirable, specified range criteria (for example, brand, articlecategory, date, price, volume, ingredient, color, temperature,percentage metric, size, etc.) wherein a database may be tagged by afilter in a content management process which automatically createsYes/No selectable icons in the single page interface. To facilitategreat numbers of products or items, multiple layers of hierarchy may beincluded without complicating the user experience. Each tier within apage may be tagged to display unique content (example: featured productsat the secondary level, category-specific products at tertiary level).

In one aspect, aspects provide for a flexible and extensible,hierarchical self-filtering catalog browser that may present aglobal-to-micro view across an entire catalog in a single view. Priorart systems and methods, for example the IBM Philip Glass Engine requirea slider or other selector item to be directly mapped to tags withineach catalog result, and wherein the catalog items are limited in typeto alike items that each meet all of the search criteria, they must havevalues for each search criteria. Such catalogs cannot be expanded toinclude other different items missing one or more tags or searchcriteria value, in one aspect as these items are not related to theexisting catalog items. In contrast, aspects of the present inventionuse layered filtering to add new or revised search criteria to therebyextend the catalog to different and optionally un-tagged items. Thus,the catalog searching enabled is not dependent on a limited catalog ofsimilar or equivalent items specifically mapped and tagged, but whereinthe catalog may be easily expanded in volume (in breadth and depth) toinclude large, perhaps unlimited, increments of dissimilar data items,with results returned easily and successfully through layered filtering.

Aspects of the present invention may interface with a variety of catalogmanagement software; illustrative but not exhaustive examples includeEndeca® and WebSphere® content management software, and other exampleswill be apparent to one skilled in the art. (ENDECA is a trademark ofEndeca Technologies, Inc., in the United States or other countries;WEBSPHERE is a trademark of IBM Corporation in the United States orother countries.) Aspects of the present invention may be built formultiple display devices using multiple object-oriented programminglanguages, and the architecture may be device and language independent.In one example, a front end interface of the aspects of FIGS. 2-7 wasbuilt using ActionScript® 3 and published as an Adobe Flash® file.(ACTIONSCRIPT and FLASH are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated inthe United States or other countries.) Although the present aspects havebeen described with respect to internet and web applications, aspects ofthe present invention may also be used for other display devices usingother technologies (for example, cellular and mobile device displays,etc.). More particularly, aspects of the present invention provideinstrumented capabilities to enable multiple clients to feed data intothe interface, for example, in content management systems, legacy dataentry, mobile device applications. Such systems may be interconnectedthrough web services connections and within intelligent frameworksimplemented with custom code.

For example, FIG. 8 illustrates one architecture example of the aspectof FIGS. 2 through 7, wherein at 202, a main class instantiates theapplication, loads configuration variables and sets up an initial dataload. At 204, a preload class loads formatted display data andassociated media (for example, thumbnail images) into the application.Once the load at 204 is complete, the main class instantiates instancesof the display interface 206, display timeline 208 and display speciesclasses 210. The display interface 206 configures an interface layoutbased on variable data which can vertically contract or expand based onnumber of categories and number of child classifications within eachcategory, and also horizontally contract or expand based on timelinemeasurement data. Thus, the display interface 206 creates an instance212 of the interface window class which controls handling display of anyinterface data that may need to be turned on or off (pop up window,rollovers, help text, etc.) through display interface event listeners.

The appropriate primary criteria display filter (for example, a timelineor fauna status) configures the display and sliding selector controlsbased on the measurement data. For example, if the display data isfiltered by number of weeks in a year, the display filter may display 52data points for a given year in a horizontal timeline at 208 containing52 points of data display control. Event listeners may be created totrack user interaction with display filter interface controls.

The display content window (in the present example, species) 210displays the categorized data as based on the timeline measurement data,for example the timeline matrix arrays of FIGS. 3-6 created to keeptrack of which category genus or species children are associated witheach measured instance across the timeline 136. The content window class214 thus controls handling display for each child object (text, images,video, etc.). It is noted that, depending on display types, additionalsubclasses may be created under a display content class; for example, ifvideo were displayed for an instance of a category child display, then adisplay video class may be created to handle load, display and playback.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an application flow of an aspectof the present invention. At runtime start 230, a model applicationgathers client side configuration data at 232, and a client applicationloads static and dynamic display content data (text, media, etc.) from aserver or other data source at 234. After an initial configuration anddata load (as confirmed at 236), an application display view configuresthe display at 238, managing user interface, measurement controls(sliders, etc.) and category display views in the single-page interface,thereby displaying static data at 240, category data at 242 and hiddendata at 244 (for example, detail sub-window 166 data summoned byselection of a first-click icon 158 and a second-click thumbnail 164).

Once the data is loaded at 246, each of the display views are created(interface, measurement controls, and category), event controllers arecreated to handle displaying/hiding static interface content or categorydata/media based upon user interaction, for example, by configuring ameasurement slider at 248, displaying measurement data in associationwith the slider at 250 and creating measurement event handlers at 252 inan interactive process until the slider is complete at 254. Thus,category data is organized with respect to Yes or No indicators in amatrix relationship at 256, the category data matrix displayed at 258and category event handlers created at 260.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an exemplary computerized implementation of anaspect of the present invention includes client computer or otherprogrammable device 322 in communication with one or more networkservers 308, storage devices 332 or external devices 328, each of whichmay include third party servers accessible through an SSL or othersecure web interface 340, for example in response to computer readablecode 342 residing in a memory 316 or a storage system 332 through acomputer network infrastructure 326. The implementation is intended todemonstrate, among other things, that the present invention could beimplemented within a network environment (e.g., the Internet, a widearea network (WAN), a local area network (LAN) or a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), etc.) Communication can occur via any combination ofvarious types of communications links: for example, communication linkscan include addressable connections that may utilize any combination ofwired and/or wireless transmission methods.

Where communications occur via the Internet, connectivity could beprovided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-based protocol, and an Internetservice provider could be used to establish connectivity to theInternet. Still yet, the network infrastructure 326 is intended todemonstrate that an application of an aspect of the invention can bedeployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider who offers toimplement, deploy, and/or perform the functions of the present inventionfor others.

The computer 322 includes various components, some of which areillustrated within the computer 322. More particularly, as shown, thecomputer 322 includes a processing unit (CPU) 338 in communication withthe memory 316 and with one or more external Input/Output (I/O)devices/resources 324, external devices 328 and storage systems 332. Ingeneral, the processing unit 338 may execute computer program code 342,such as code to implement components that perform one or more of theprocess steps as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, or to provide thesingle-page browser pages illustrated by FIGS. 2-7, as discussed above.Said computer program code 342 may be stored in the memory 316, thestorage device 332 and/or the external device 328.

The network infrastructure 326 is only illustrative of various types ofcomputer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, inone aspect, computer infrastructure 326 includes two or more computingdevices (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over a network.Moreover, the computer 322 is only representative of various possiblecomputer systems that can include numerous combinations of hardware. Tothis extent, in other aspects, the computer 322 can include any specificpurpose computing article of manufacture including hardware and/orcomputer program code for performing specific functions, any computingarticle of manufacture that includes a combination of specific purposeand general purpose hardware/software, or the like. In each case, theprogram code and hardware can be created using standard programming andengineering techniques, respectively.

Moreover, the processing unit 338 may include a single processing unit,or be distributed across one or more processing units in one or morelocations, e.g., on a client and server. Similarly, the memory 316and/or the storage system 332 can include any combination of varioustypes of data storage and/or transmission media that reside at one ormore physical locations. Further, I/O interfaces 324 can include anysystem for exchanging information with one or more of the externaldevice 328. Still further, it is understood that one or more additionalcomponents (e.g., system software, math co-processing unit, etc.), notshown, can be included in the computer 322.

One aspect performs process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider could offerto create, maintain, and support, etc., a computer infrastructure, suchas the network computer infrastructure 326 that performs the processsteps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the serviceprovider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscriptionand/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive paymentfrom the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a computer-implementedmethod for executing one or more of the processes, systems and articlesaccording to the present invention as described above. In this case, acomputer infrastructure, such as the computer infrastructure 326, can beprovided and one or more systems for performing the process steps of theinvention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified,etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, thedeployment of a system can include one or more of: (1) installingprogram code on a computing device, such as the computers/devices 322,from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computingdevices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/ormodifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure toenable the computer infrastructure to perform the process steps of theinvention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presenceof stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. As used herein, it is understood that the terms“program code” and “computer program code” are synonymous and mean anyexpression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructionsintended to cause a computing device having an information processingcapability to perform a particular function either directly or aftereither or both the following: (a) conversion to another language, codeor notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form. Tothis extent, program code can be embodied as one or more of: anapplication/software program, component software/a library of functions,an operating system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particularcomputing and/or I/O device, and the like.

Certain examples and elements described in the present specification,including in the claims and as illustrated in the Figures, may bedistinguished or otherwise identified from others by unique adjectives(e.g. a “first” element distinguished from another “second” or “third”of a plurality of elements, a “primary” distinguished from a “secondary”one or “another” item, etc.) Such identifying adjectives are generallyused to reduce confusion or uncertainty, and are not to be construed tolimit the claims to any specific illustrated element or aspect, or toimply any precedence, ordering or ranking of any claim elements,limitations or process steps.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The aspectwas chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theinvention and the practical application, and to enable others ofordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for variousaspects with various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for a single page multi-tier catalogbrowser, the method comprising: presenting a single interface web pagein an original view that comprises a plurality of different selectabledisplayed filtering criteria buttons that are each associated withdifferent pre-determined filtering criteria relevant to a plurality ofrecords within a catalog; in response to a user selection of a first oneof the displayed filtering criteria buttons, redrawing the original viewof the single interface web page into a second view that displays agraduated element below the plurality of different selectable filteringcriteria buttons that comprises a plurality of different displayedvalues of a primary filter of the pre-determined filtering criteria thatis associated with the selected first filtering criteria button, amatrix below the graduated element of a relationship of each of thedisplayed primary filter values to each of displayed ones of a pluralityof different displayed values of a secondary filter of thepre-determined filtering criteria that is associated with the selectedfirst filtering criteria button, wherein the matrix is populated with aplurality of Yes indicators that are each aligned with respective onesof the displayed primary filter values and the displayed secondaryfilter values that match within the catalog records, and with aplurality of No indicators that are each aligned with respective ones ofthe displayed primary filter values and the displayed secondary filtervalues that do not match within the catalog records, and a slider barengaging the graduated element that is movable via graphical userinterface input by the user into different positions over each of theprimary filter values displayed in the graduated element; in response tothe user selecting one of the primary filter values displayed within thegraduated element by moving the slider bar onto the selected primaryfilter value, presenting each of the Yes matrix indicators that arealigned with the selected primary filter value and displayed in thematrix in alignment with the slider bar in the second view as selectableicons in the interface web page; in response to the user selecting oneof the selectable icons, redrawing the second view of the singleinterface web page into a third view expanding the selected icon into asub-window within the interface web page, the sub-window displaying atleast one thumbnail image of a data item of the catalog that isassociated with the displayed primary filter value and the displayedsecondary filter value that are each aligned in the displayed matrixwith the selected icon; wherein the user remains on the single interfaceweb page during the presenting of the original view and during each ofthe redrawings of the original view, the second view and the third view,and in response to an input by the user closing the sub-window, withoutnavigating away from the single interface web page to a different windowor a different web page.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:implementing computer-readable program code into a computer systemcomprising a processing unit, a computer readable memory and a computerreadable tangible storage medium, wherein the computer readable programcode is embodied on the computer readable tangible storage medium andcomprises instructions that, when executed by the processing unit viathe computer readable memory, cause the processing unit to perform thesteps of presenting the single interface page in the original view,redrawing the original view of the single interface web page into thesecond view in response to the user selection of the first one of thedisplayed filtering criteria buttons, presenting each of the Yes matrixindicators that are aligned with the selected primary filter value anddisplayed in the matrix in alignment with the slider bar in the secondview as selectable icons in the interface web page in response to theuser selecting one of the primary filter values displayed within thegraduated element by moving the slider bar onto the selected primaryfilter value, and redrawing the second view of the single interface webpage into the third view in response to the user selecting one of theselectable icons.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: inresponse to the user selecting the at least one thumbnail image,redrawing the third view of the single interface web page into a fourthview enlarging the selected at least one thumbnail image into anexpanded thumbnail window within the single interface web page, whereinthe expanded thumbnail window comprises an additional filtering optionthat is selectable by the user; and in response to the user selectingthe additional filtering option, redrawing the fourth view of the singleinterface web page into a fifth view expanding the expanded thumbnailwindow into a detail window that includes data returned from a search ofthe catalog records that is associated with the additional filteringoption and the displayed primary filter value and the displayedsecondary filter value that are each aligned in the displayed matrixwith the selected icon; and wherein the user remains on the singleinterface web page during the presenting of the original view and duringeach of the redrawings of the original view, the second view, the thirdview, the fourth view and the fifth view, and in response to an input bythe user closing any of the sub-window, the expanded thumbnail windowand the detail window, without navigating away from the single interfaceweb page to a different window or a different web page.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the No indicators are blank spaces.
 5. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising: in response to a user selection of adifferent, second one of the displayed filtering criteria buttons,redrawing the interface web page into a sixth view by: reformatting thegraduated element to comprise a plurality of displayed values of anotherprimary filter of another one of the pre-determined filtering criteriathat is associated with the selected second filtering criteria button;and reformatting the matrix to display a relationship of each of thedisplayed primary filter values of the another primary filter to each ofdisplayed ones of a plurality of displayed values of another secondaryfilter of the other pre-determined filtering criteria that is associatedwith the selected second filtering criteria button, wherein thereformatted matrix is populated with a plurality of Yes indicators thatare each aligned with respective ones of the displayed primary filtervalues and the displayed secondary filter values that match within thecatalog records, and with a plurality of No indicators that are eachaligned with respective ones of the displayed primary filter values andthe displayed secondary filter values that do not match within thecatalog records; wherein, in response to the user selecting one of theprimary filter values displayed within the reformatted graduated elementby moving the slider bar onto the selected primary filter value, the Yesmatrix indicators that are aligned with the selected primary filtervalue displayed in the reformatted matrix in alignment with the sliderbar are presented as reformatted matrix selectable icons in theinterface web page that when selected expand into reformatted matrixsub-windows displaying at least one reformatted matrix thumbnail imageof a data item of the catalog that is associated with the displayedprimary filter value and the displayed secondary filter value that areeach aligned in the displayed reformatted matrix with the selected iconwithin the sixth view of the interface web page; and wherein the userremains on the single interface web page during each of the redrawingsteps that generate the original view, the second view, the third view,the fourth view, the fifth view and the sixth view, and in response toan input by the user closing any of the sub-window, the expandedthumbnail window and the detail window, without navigating away from thesingle interface web page to a different window or a different web page.6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one thumbnail image is arow of a plurality of thumbnails in a horizontal thumbnail space.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising: creating event listeners; andtracking interaction of the user with display filter interface controlsthrough the created event listeners.
 8. A system, comprising: aprocessing unit, in communication with a computer readable memory and atangible computerreadable storage medium; wherein the processing unit,when executing program instructions stored on the tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory:presents a single interface web page in an original view that comprisesa plurality of different selectable displayed filtering criteria buttonsthat are each associated with different pre-determined filteringcriteria relevant to a plurality of records within a catalog; inresponse to a user selection of a first one of the displayed filteringcriteria buttons, redraws the original view of the single interface webpage into a second view that displays a graduated element below theplurality of different selectable filtering criteria buttons thatcomprises a plurality of different displayed values of a primary filterof the pre-determined filtering criteria that is associated with theselected first filtering criteria button, a matrix below the graduatedelement of a relationship of each of the displayed primary filter valuesto each of displayed ones of a plurality of different displayed valuesof a secondary filter of the pre-determined filtering criteria that isassociated with the selected first filtering criteria button, whereinthe matrix is populated with a plurality of Yes indicators that are eachaligned with respective ones of the displayed primary filter values andthe displayed secondary filter values that match within the catalogrecords, and with a plurality of No indicators that are each alignedwith respective ones of the displayed primary filter values and thedisplayed secondary filter values that do not match within the catalogrecords and a slider bar engaging the graduated element that is movablevia graphical user interface input by the user into different positionsover each of the primary filter values displayed in the graduatedelement; in response to the user selecting one of the primary filtervalues displayed within the graduated element by moving the slider baronto the selected primary filter value, presents each of the Yes matrixindicators that are aligned with the selected primary filter value anddisplayed in the matrix in alignment with the slider bar in the secondview as selectable icons in the interface web page; and in response tothe user selecting one of the selectable icons, redraws the second viewof the single interface web page into a third view expanding theselected icon into a sub-window within the interface web page, thesub-window displaying at least one thumbnail image of a data item of thecatalog that is associated with the displayed primary filter value andthe displayed secondary filter value that are each aligned in thedisplayed matrix with the selected icon; and wherein the user remains onthe single interface web page during the presenting of the original viewand during each of the redrawings of the original view, the second viewand the third view, and in response to an input by the user closing thesub-window, without navigating away from the single interface web pageto a different window or a different web page.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructionsstored on the computer-readable storage medium via the computer readablememory, further: in response to the user selecting the at least onethumbnail image, redraws the third view of the single interface web pageinto a fourth view enlarging the selected at least one thumbnail imageinto an expanded thumbnail window within the single interface web page,wherein the expanded thumbnail window comprises an additional filteringoption that is selectable by the user; and in response to the userselecting the additional filtering option, redraws the fourth view ofthe single interface web page into a fifth view expanding the expandedthumbnail window into a detail window that includes data returned from asearch of the catalog records that is associated with the additionalfiltering option and the displayed primary filter value and thedisplayed secondary filter value that are each aligned in the displayedmatrix with the selected icon; and wherein the user remains on thesingle interface web page during the presenting of the original view andduring each of the redrawings of the original view, the second view, thethird view, the fourth view and the fifth view, and in response to aninput by the user closing any of the sub-window, the expanded thumbnailwindow and the detail window, without navigating away from the singleinterface web page to a different window or a different web page. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein the No indicators are blank spaces. 11.The system of claim 9, wherein the processing unit, when executing theprogram instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium viathe computer readable memory, further: in response to a user selectionof a different, second one of the displayed filtering criteria buttons,redraws the interface web page into a sixth view that comprises areformatted graduated element that comprises a plurality of displayedvalues of another primary filter of another one of the pre-determinedfiltering criteria that is associated with the selected second filteringcriteria button, and a reformatted matrix that displays a relationshipof each of the displayed primary filter values of the another primaryfilter to each of displayed ones of a plurality of displayed values ofanother secondary filter of the other pre-determined filtering criteriathat is associated with the selected second filtering criteria button,wherein the reformatted matrix is populated with a plurality of Yesindicators that are each aligned with respective ones of the displayedprimary filter values and the displayed secondary filter values thatmatch within the catalog records, and with a plurality of No indicatorsthat are each aligned with respective ones of the displayed primaryfilter values and the displayed secondary filter values that do notmatch within the catalog records; wherein, in response to the userselecting one of the primary filter values displayed within thereformatted graduated element by moving the slider bar onto the selectedprimary filter value, the Yes matrix indicators that are aligned withthe selected primary filter value displayed in the reformatted matrix inalignment with the slider bar are presented as reformatted matrixselectable icons in the sixth view of interface web page that whenselected expand into reformatted matrix sub-windows displaying at leastone reformatted matrix thumbnail image of a data item of the catalogthat is associated with the displayed primary filter value and thedisplayed secondary filter value that are each aligned in the displayedreformatted matrix with the selected icon within the sixth view of theinterface web page; and wherein the user remains on the single interfaceweb page during each of the redrawing steps that generate the originalview, the second view, the third view, the fourth view, the fifth viewand the sixth view, and in response to an input by the user closing anyof the sub-window, the expanded thumbnail window and the detail window,without navigating away from the single interface web page to adifferent window or a different web page.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructionsstored on the computer-readable storage medium via the computer readablememory, further presents the at least one thumbnail image as a row of aplurality of thumbnails in a horizontal thumbnail space.
 13. The systemof claim 11, wherein the processing unit, when executing the programinstructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via thecomputer readable memory, further: creates event listeners; and tracksinteraction of the user with display filter interface controls throughthe created event listeners.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein theprocessing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on thecomputer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory,further creates interface, measurement control, and category eventcontrollers to handle displaying and hiding static interface content inresponse to the user selecting primary filter values through thegraduated element and the reformatted graduated element.
 15. A computerprogram product for a single page multi-tier catalog browser, thecomputer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith,the computer readable program code comprising instructions that, whenexecuted by a computer processing unit, cause the computer processingunit to: present a single interface web page in an original view thatcomprises a plurality of different selectable displayed filteringcriteria buttons that are each associated with different pre-determinedfiltering criteria relevant to a plurality of records within a catalog;in response to a user selection of a first one of the displayedfiltering criteria buttons, redraw the original view of the singleinterface web page into a second view that displays a graduated elementbelow the plurality of different selectable filtering criteria buttonsthat comprises a plurality of different displayed values of a primaryfilter of the pre-determined filtering criteria that is associated withthe selected first filtering criteria button, a matrix below thegraduated element of a relationship of each of the displayed primaryfilter values to each of displayed ones of a plurality of differentdisplayed values of a secondary filter of the pre-determined filteringcriteria that is associated with the selected first filtering criteriabutton, wherein the matrix is populated with a plurality of Yesindicators that are each aligned with respective ones of the displayedprimary filter values and the displayed secondary filter values thatmatch within the catalog records, and with a plurality of No indicatorsthat are each aligned with respective ones of the displayed primaryfilter values and the displayed secondary filter values that do notmatch within the catalog records and a slider bar engaging the graduatedelement that is movable via graphical user interface input by the userinto different positions over each of the primary filter valuesdisplayed in the graduated element; in response to the user selectingone of the primary filter values displayed within the graduated elementby moving the slider bar onto the selected primary filter value, presenteach of the Yes matrix indicators that are aligned with the selectedprimary filter value and displayed in the matrix in alignment with theslider bar in the second view as selectable icons in the interface webpage; and in response to the user selecting one of the selectable icons,redraw the second view of the single interface web page into a thirdview expanding the selected icon into a sub-window within the interfaceweb page, the sub-window displaying at least one thumbnail image of adata item of the catalog that is associated with the displayed primaryfilter value and the displayed secondary filter value that are eachaligned in the displayed matrix with the selected icon; and wherein theuser remains on the single interface web page during the presenting ofthe original view and during each of the redrawings of the originalview, the second view and the third view, and in response to an input bythe user closing the sub-window, without navigating away from the singleinterface web page to a different window or a different web page. 16.The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer readableprogram code instructions, when executed by the computer processingunit, further cause the computer processing unit to: in response to theuser selecting the at least one thumbnail image, redraw the third viewof the single interface web page into a fourth view enlarging theselected at least one thumbnail image into an expanded thumbnail windowwithin the single interface web page, wherein the expanded thumbnailwindow comprises an additional filtering option that is selectable bythe user; and in response to the user selecting the additional filteringoption, redraw the fourth view of the single interface web page into afifth view expanding the expanded thumbnail window into a detail windowthat includes data returned from a search of the catalog records that isassociated with the additional filtering option and the displayedprimary filter value and the displayed secondary filter value that areeach aligned in the displayed matrix with the selected icon; and whereinthe user remains on the single interface web page during the presentingof the original view and during each of the redrawings of the originalview, the second view, the third view, the fourth view and the fifthview, and in response to an input by the user closing any of thesub-window, the expanded thumbnail window and the detail window, withoutnavigating away from the single interface web page to a different windowor a different web page.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16,wherein the No indicators are blank spaces.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 16, wherein the computer readable program codeinstructions, when executed by the computer processing unit, furthercause the computer processing unit to: in response to a user selectionof a different, second one of the displayed filtering criteria buttons,redraw the interface web page into a sixth view that comprises areformatted graduated element that comprises a plurality of displayedvalues of another primary filter of another one of the pre-determinedfiltering criteria that is associated with the selected second filteringcriteria button, and a reformatted matrix that displays a relationshipof each of the displayed primary filter values of the another primaryfilter to each of displayed ones of a plurality of displayed values ofanother secondary filter of the other predetermined filtering criteriathat is associated with the selected second filtering criteria button,wherein the reformatted matrix is populated with a plurality of Yesindicators that are each aligned with respective ones of the displayedprimary filter values and the displayed secondary filter values thatmatch within the catalog records, and with a plurality of No indicatorsthat are each aligned with respective ones of the displayed primaryfilter values and the displayed secondary filter values that do notmatch within the catalog records; wherein, in response to the userselecting one of the primary filter values displayed within thereformatted graduated element by moving the slider bar onto the selectedprimary filter value, the Yes matrix indicators that are aligned withthe selected primary filter value displayed in the reformatted matrix inalignment with the slider bar are presented as reformatted matrixselectable icons in the sixth view of interface web page that whenselected expand into reformatted matrix sub-windows displaying at leastone reformatted matrix thumbnail image of a data item of the catalogthat is associated with the displayed primary filter value and thedisplayed secondary filter value that are each aligned in the displayedreformatted matrix with the selected icon within the sixth view of theinterface web page; and wherein the user remains on the single interfaceweb page during each of the redrawing steps that generate the originalview, the second view, the third view, the fourth view, the fifth viewand the sixth view, and in response to an input by the user closing anyof the sub-window, the expanded thumbnail window and the detail window,without navigating away from the single interface web page to adifferent window or a different web page.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 18, wherein the computer readable program codeinstructions, when executed by the computer processing unit, furthercause the computer processing unit to: create event listeners; and trackinteraction of the user with display filter interface controls throughthe created event listeners.
 20. The computer program product of claim18, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, whenexecuted by the computer processing unit, further cause the computerprocessing unit to create interface, measurement control, and categoryevent controllers to handle displaying and hiding static interfacecontent in response to the user selecting primary filter values throughthe graduated element and the reformatted graduated element.